backlash

noun

back·​lash ˈbak-ˌlash 

1

a

: a sudden violent backward movement or reaction

b

: the play between adjacent movable parts (as in a series of gears)

also : the jar caused by this when the parts are put into action

2

: a snarl in that part of a fishing line wound on the reel

3

: a strong adverse reaction (as to a recent political or social development)

backlasher noun

Examples of backlash in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After about a month, when the social media and news backlash started to settle down, Johnson said the hateful comments stopped coming in. — Elijah Polance, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026

Swift and Kelce donated $26 million to charities across the country ahead of their wedding, but that seems to have done little to stunt the backlash. — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 6 July 2026

The announcement comes less than a year after Norwood became the target of major industry backlash following claims by van der Velden that the AI creation was about to signed up to an agency. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 6 July 2026

Sustainable investing is already on the back foot, worn down by years of greenwashing scandals, funds quietly stripped of their green labels, and a political backlash that treats ESG as an insult. — Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing backlash

• anti-backlash

Rhymes for backlash

• chumash
• eyelash
• moustache
• mustache
• noncash
• potash
• rehash
• whiplash
• ash
• bash
• brash
• cache

Kids Definition

backlash

noun

back·​lash ˈbak-ˌlash 

: a reaction against some political or social development